Messi Scores Again, Inter Miami Tops Charlotte 4-0 to Make Leagues Cup Semifinals

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi’s goalscoring streak lives on, as does Inter Miami’s profitable streak.

Messi scored within the 86th minute, his eighth aim in 5 matches along with his new membership, and Inter Miami rolled previous Charlotte 4-0 in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal sport on Friday evening.

Messi has scored in all 5 of his appearances with Miami. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner who led Argentina to the World Cup crown final yr has but to lose a match with Miami, strolling off winners in all 5 matchups thus far within the Leagues Cup, a 47-team occasion composed of golf equipment from MLS and Mexico’s prime league that now could be whittled right down to the ultimate 4.

Subsequent up for Messi and his new membership: A semifinal sport on Tuesday in opposition to both Mexican membership Queretaro or Philadelphia Union.

Charlotte virtually discovered a option to maintain him off the scoresheet. Nearly.

Josef Martinez and Robert Thomas additionally had targets for Inter Miami, an personal aim arrange by some critical Messi stress late within the second half resulted in one other rating, after which Messi supplied the right clincher within the remaining moments.

The workforce appeared to have shut to simply about one other sellout at 22,000-seat DRV PNK Stadium, even on an evening the place the South Florida sports activities panorama was loaded. The Miami Dolphins have been enjoying their preseason opener at house, the Miami Marlins performed host to the New York Yankees, and Miami Warmth guard Tyler Herro was headlining a pro-am league championship sport inside a packed highschool fitness center.

However Messi-mania lived on, as could be anticipated. And the followers in these new pink No. 10 jerseys left completely satisfied as soon as once more, a far cry from what life was like for Inter Miami backers earlier than the Messi period began.

Earlier than Messi: Inter Miami had received 5 of its 22 MLS matches this season.

With Messi: Inter Miami has received all 5 of its Leagues Cup matches, and now could be simply two wins from a trophy.

Messi’s first good likelihood got here half-hour into the match when some nifty quick passes on the left facet of the field led to him getting a chance from about 6 yards out. His shot was knocked away by Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, preserving what was then a 1-0 lead.

Little did anybody know Inter Miami already had all of the offense it might want.

One other nice alternative got here within the 69th minute, when Messi despatched a move to Taylor, then acquired it again and had open internet — solely to have his attempt from about 12 yards out in the course of the field get deflected away.

All Messi might do was look skyward, giving a bit smile.

Martinez opened the scoring for Inter Miami on a penalty kick within the twelfth minute, one which got here after Dixon Arroyo was taken down contained in the field. That foul got here shortly after Inter Miami unsuccessfully argued that Charlotte had dedicated a handball, which additionally would have led to the awarding of a penalty kick.

It went to 2-0 within the thirty second minute, when Taylor took a move from DeAndre Yedlin close to the highest of the field and despatched a one-timer off the hand of a sprawling Kahlina. Yedlin collected a move on the suitable wing, waited for Taylor — who pointed to the place he wished the ball — and despatched it to that exact spot to arrange the second of the evening.

The personal aim made it 3-0, after which Messi completed off the win.

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